BX  7795   .R6  W3  1878 
Waring,  William,  18077-1884 
Memoirs  of  Henry  Robberman, 
late  of  Chesterfield,  Ohio 


Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Archive 

in  2015 

https://archive.org/details/memoirsofhenryroOOwari 


OF 

HENRY  ROBBERMAN, 

LATE  OF  CUEsTERFI1:LD,  OHIO, 
AXD 

THOMAS  AVARING, 

OF  WEST  XOTTIXGHAM,  MD. 


BY 

WILLIAM  WARING, 

OF  COLOKA,  CECIL  CO.,  MARYLAND. 


PHILADELPHIA 
18  78. 


MEMOIR 

OF 

HENRY  ROBBERMAN, 

LATE  OF  CHESTERFIELD,  OHIO. 


Hi:xRY  RoBBEUMAX  was  born  near  the  city 
of  Minden,  in  Prussia,  on  the  11th  day  of 
Eleventh  Month,  1774. 

His  parents,  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Robber- 
man,  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  profession, 
and  he  was  brought  up  in  that  way. 

He  has  been  heard  to  relate  various  inci- 
dents of  his  life,  education,  religious  exercises, 
convincement,  etc. ;  recounting,  with  meekness 
and  humility,  many  of  the  mercies  and  preser- 
vations vouchsafed  to  him  from  his  youth  up. 

"  Many  are  the  afflictions  of  the  righteous, 
but  the  Lord  delivereth  him  out  of  them  all.'^ 
This  testimony  of  King  David  was  signally 


4 


MEMOIR  OF 


verified  in  the  life  of  Henry  Robber  man,  who 
was  brought  through  notable  deliverances  to 
})raise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness" — to  tell  of 
his  "wonders  in  the  deep" — to  realize,  in 
quietness  and  in  confidence,  an  inward  sup- 
port and  renewal  of  strength,  and  to  know,  as 
the  Psalmist  did,  the  eye  of  the  Lord  to  be 
u})on  them  that  fear  him,  upon  them  that  hope 
in  his  mercy  ;  to  deliver  their  soul  from  death, 
and  to  keep  them  alive  in  famine." 

In  our  acquaintance  with  him,  say  his  friends, 
embracing  a  period  of  more  than  seventeen 
years,  he  evinced  so  much  of  a  loving,  patient. 
Christian  spirit,  as  greatly  to  enlarge  our  love 
and  esteem  for  him.  He  sometimes  had  a  few 
words  by  way  of  testimony  in  our  meetings, 
to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends;  and  in  our 
families  his  conversation  and  religious  com- 
munications were  both  instructive  and  edifying. 
He  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  and  endued  with 
an  enlarged  spiritual  understanding  in  divine 
things ;  was  firmly  settled  in  the  ancient  doc- 
trines and  testimonies  of  Friends,  and  much 
opposed  to  any  unsoundness  or  innovation 
either  in  faith  or  practice. 

A  Friend  well  acquainted  with  him  has  thus 
written,  "  I  have  often  thought,  and  increas- 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


5 


ingly  of  late,  that  something  was  due  to  tlie 
memory  of  our  dear  friend,  H.  Robberman, 
and  might  be  valuable  to  us  who  are  left  be- 
hind, and  an  encouragement  to  press  forward, 
as  he  did,  to  obtain  the  crown  immortal ;  to  sell 
all  that  we  have,  and  buy  the  pearl  of  great 
price;  for  this  we  believe  was  the  chief  con- 
cern of  our  dear  departed  friend.  He  was 
truly  a  man  fearing  God,  and  hating  covetous- 
ness — of  a  deep  and  weighty  spirit — cheerful 
in  conversation,  and  courteous  to  all;  yet  his 
words  were  seasoned  with  grace,  and  reached 
the  witness  for  truth  in  those  with  whom  he 
conversed,  in  a  remarkable  manner. 

"  His  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  was 
very  thorough,  and  he  was  often  enabled  by  Him 
who  openeth,  and  no  man  shutteth,  to  explain 
passages  therein  with  great  clearness  and  unc- 
tion. It  was  our  privilege  to  have  much  of 
his  company  during  the  few  last  years  of  his 
life,  often  several  days  at  a  time,  and  the  sea- 
sons of  refreshment  we  at  times  had  are  lively 
in  our  remembrance,  for  he  was  a  heavenly- 
minded  man. 

During  the  latter  period  of  his  life  he  was 
much  afflicted,  but  bore  it  with  Christian  forti- 
tude, and  was  often  lively  and  fresh  in  his 


6 


MEMOIR  OF 


spirit,  and  dropped  many  weighty  expressions ; 
and  we  humbly  trust  and  believe  he  is  gathered 
into  the  Heavenly  Garner  as  a  shock  of  corn 
fully  ripe,  and  that  in  him  is  verified  the 
declaration  of  Holy  Scripture,  ^Blessed  are 
the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  hence- 
forth, yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they-  may  rest 
from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow 
them/ 

Another  Friend  also  writes,  "  My  heart  was 
stirred  within  me  in  remembrance  of  the  times 
when  it  was  our  privilege  and  comfort  to  have 
the  company  of  this  meek  and  humble  disciple 
of  a  lowly  Redeemer;  how  precious  was  his 
company,  ever  fraught  with  instruction,  clearly 
unfolding  the  mysteries  of  the  Heavenly  King- 
dom, and  bringing  forth  from  the  rich  treas- 
ures of  a  heart  deeply  versed  in  the  school  of 
Christ,  things  new  and  old.  My  pen  is  notable 
to  set  forth  the  excellency  of  that  grace  that 
was  so  eminently  manifested  in  this  humble 
servant  of  the  living  God.  How  strongly  it 
inclines  the  heart  to  follow  on,  to  know,  as  he 
did,  an  overcoming,  and,  as  it  were,  all  things 
transitory  put  under  our  feet ;  that  in  the  wind- 
ing up  of  time  we  may  have,  as  he  had,  a  well- 
grounded  hope  of  a  happy  immortality." 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


7 


From  some  of  his  manuscripts,  is  extracted 
the  following:  ''In  the  year  1792,  being  then 
in  the  eighteenth  year  of  my  age,  I  was  taken 
by  force  into  the  [Prussian]  army,  and  was  in 
that  army  [several]  years,  and  during  that 
time  passed  through  many  and  great  dangers ; 
and  marvellous  was  the  love  of  my  Heavenly 
Father  to  my  soul,  in  keeping  and  preserving 

me,  in  that  great  company,  for  it 

pleased  him  to  place  his  fear  in  my  heart,  and 
I  was  careful  not  to  offend  him  in  anything, 
according  to  the  knowledge  I  then  had. 

"I  can  well  remember  many  things  and  oc- 
casions wherein  the  hand  of  the  Lord  is  plainly 
seen  in  preservations  and  deliverances ;  praised 
be  his  name  forever  and  ever ;  for  I  was  not 
worthy  of  all  his  mercies  and  his  grace  that 
he  has  bestowed  upon  me ;  yea,  I  am  not  able 
to  describe  it,  for  the  cruel  adversary  was  ever 
willing  to  draw  me  away,  but  the  Lord  Al- 
mighty was  on  my  side,  and  has  preserved  me 
until  this  day,  and  I  hope  and  believe  he  will 
not  forsake  me,  for  I  put  my  trust  in  him. 

"  The  liord  gave  me  a  tender  heart,  even 
from  a  child,  and  a  just  principle  was  in  me 
that  I  was  not  willing  to  wrong  any  one,  no 
matter  how  hungry  or  needy  I  was,  and  I  was 


8 


MEMOIR  OF 


ever  willing  to  do  a  kindness  to  any,  and  this 
gave  me  favor,  and  many  friends  the  Lord  gave 
me ;  praised  be  his  name,  for  He  alone  is 
worthy/' 

He  appears  to  have  been  convinced,  while 
in  the  army,  of  the  iniquity  of  taking  the  life 
of  a  fellow-being.  On  the  morning  of  the  day 
when  the  army  was  defeated  by  the  French 
under  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  he  awoke  with  a 
prayer  in  his  mind,  "Oh  tliat  I  may  not  kill 
a  man  !"  And  this  continued  to  be  his  breath- 
ing desire  as  the  day  advanced,  not  then  seeing 
but  that  he  would  have  to  use  his  weapon  if 
brought  into  the  conflict.  But  the  company 
he  was  in  was  placed  in  reserve.  They  stood 
for  hours  where  they  could  hear,  but  could  not 
see,  the  terrible  conflict  that  was  going  on. 
About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  an  officer 
came  riding  to  the  top  of  the  hill  that  over- 
looked the  valley  in  which  the  reserve  company 
were  stationed,  and  called  out  to  them  (accord- 
ing to  Henry's  rendering  into  English),  "  Go 
back,  my  children,  go  back,  my  children,  all  is 
lost !  all  is  lost !"  They  speedily  retreated,  but 
were  pursued.  In  passing  up  the  opposite  hill, 
balls  fell  near  them,  but  none  were  hurt.  The 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


9 


army  was  then  broken  nj),  and  he  returned 
home. 

It  is  spoken  of  as  having  been  impressive 
and  even  affecting  to  hear  his  narration  of  this 
circumstance,  accompanied  by  expressions  of 
heartfelt  thankfuhiess  for  this  marked  inter- 
position in  his  behalf,  counting  it  among  the 
many  remarkable  deliverances  he  had  received 
at  the  Divine  Hand. 

His  convincement  of  the  truth  as  professed 
by  Friends  may  be  best  given  in  his  own  words, 
thus:  "I  have  often  thought  my  convincement 
remarkable.  1  had  a  great  esteem  for  the  pro- 
fession of  religion  in  which  I  was  brouglit  up, 
and  a  o^reat  reo^ard  and  esteem  for  their  minis- 
ters,  and  in  my  blindness  and  darkness  I  looked 
upon  them  as  angels  from  heaven  ;  but  praised 
be  the  name  of  niy  God,  he  looked  upon  me, 
and  in  great  mercy  brought  me  out  of  that 
land  of  Egypt  into  a  better  country,  for  he 
saw  this  was  a  land  of  darkness,  and  he  would 
bring  me  into  a  region  of  light. 

"  It  had  pleased  him  to  raise  up  a  little  flock 
in  onr  country  who  were  regarded  with  little 
favor  by  the  people.  They  called  them  de- 
ceivers. I  heard  of  them,  but  was  afraid  of 
them,  and  was  not  willing  to  go  into  their  com- 


10 


MEMOIR  OF 


pany,  thinking  they  held  dangerous  doctrines. 
Being  at  a  neighboring  house,  I  was  called 
upon  to  read  in  one  of  their  books.  It  was 
William  Penn's  ^Summons  or  Call  to  Chris- 
tendom.' While  reading  this  book  my  under- 
standing was  opened,  and  I  was  fully  con- 
vinced that  the  doctrine  therein  contained  was 
the  truth." 

After  this  he  passed  through  many  exercises 
of  mind,  to  the  trying  of  his  faith  and  patience, 
but  appears  to  have  adhered  closely  to  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  the  year  1814  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Two  Months  Meeting  of  the 
people  called  Quakers,  held  alternately  at 
Minden,  in  Prussia,  and  Pyrmont,  in  Germany ; 
and  cheerfully  walked  forty-two  miles  to  at- 
tend it,  when  held  at  the  latter  place,  in  com- 
pany with  another  Friend,  often  leaving  his 
home  the  evening  before,  and  walking  all  night 
in  order  to  accomplish  it  in  time. 

In  the  period  that  elapsed  from  his  convince- 
ment  to  the  time  at  which  he  joined  the  Society, 
among  the  close  trials  and  deep  provings  which 
he  passed  through,  may  be  mentioned,  that  his 
wife  was  then  much  opposed  to  him  ;  he  was 
quite  poor  in  his  outward  circumstances,  and 
met  with  successive  losses  from  the  little  he 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


11 


then  had,  wliich  was  attributed  by  her  and 
others  to  his  having  embraced,  in  their  esti- 
mation, a  new  and  wronor;  religion.  For  several 
years  their  one  pig  died  when  nearly  fattened  ; 
then  a  young  cow  died ;  so  that  he  was  closely 
proved,  it  being  no  small  trial  to  them  to  lose 
what  was  so  necessary  for  their  support.  "  I 
was  enabled  (said  he)  to  bow  meekly  under  these 
trials.  I  still  had  a  hope  the  Lord  would  be 
merciful  to  me,  and  deliver  me  in  his  own  time.'^ 
He  was  late  one  fall  in  sowing  his  rye,  having 
to  wait  for  a  team  until  his  neighbors  had  fin- 
ished. The  following  spring  his  wife  went  to 
see  their  field.  The  ground  was  bare,  the  rye 
had  not  come  up,  while  that  of  their  neigh- 
bors was  green  and  flourishing.  ^'  She  came 
home,^'  said  he,  "weeping,  saying  we  should 
have  nothing  for  bread.  I  could  not  say  any- 
thing; I  did  not  know  what  the  Lord  would 
do  for  me.  In  about  two  weeks  /  went  to  see 
our  field.  [He  had  a  few  acres,  three  or  four 
miles  from  their  dwelling.]  When  I  reached 
there  the  rye  was  two  or  three  inches  high. 
Oh !  my  heart  was  filled  with  gladness,  and  I 
praised  the  name  of  my  God.  I  came  home, 
but  did  not  say  anything;  was  very  silent. 
When  the  time  of  harvest  came  ray  wife  and 


12 


MEMOIR  OF 


I  went  to  cut  it;  I  cut  it  and  slie  bound  it 
after  me.  We  worked  until  weary,  and  sat 
down  to  rest.  She  arose  first  and  went  to  the 
neighbor's  shocks  to  examine  the  heads,  but 
found  very  little  grain  in  them.  Slie  then  ex- 
amined ours,  and  found  them  uncommonly  well 
filled.  Our  neighbor's  being  sown  early  was 
smitten  with  rust,  while  ours  had  escaped. 
She  came  back  and  sat  down  by  me  and  wept ; 
said  she  was  sorry  slie  had  said  what  she  had, 
and  desired  me  to  forgive  her.  This  I  could 
freely  do,  and  was  thankful  to  my  Heavenly 
Father  for  his  mercy  and  his  compassion 
towards  us." 

After  his  reception  into  membership  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  a  school  for  Friends'  chil- 
dren, and  continued  in  that  employment  about 
seventeen  years,  and  had  a  comfortable  evi- 
dence that  a  blessing  rested  upon  his  labors. 
Some  of  the  children  under  his  care  were  re- 
moved by  death  in  early  life,  and  he  had  the 
consoling  belief  they  were  gathered  to  everlast- 
ing rest.  During  this  time  his  outward  cir- 
cumstances much  improved.  He  took  part  in 
meetings  for  discipline,  and  was  instrumental 
for  the  help  of  delinquents. 

The  following  circumstance  is  given  as  he  re- 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


13 


lated  it :  ''One  First  Day,  as  I  sat  in  our  little 
meeting  in  Germany,  a  voice  said  to  me  :  'Lo! 
I  have  given  thee  all  that  go  in  the  ship  with 
thee,  and  they  shall  be  saved.'  I  did  not 
know  the  meaning  of  this.  After  meeting  I 
told  it  to  John  Rache,  a  Friend,  who  said  it 
might  be  I  would  want  to  go  to  England  or 
America  some  time;  but  of  this  I  had  no 
knowledge,  not  having  at  that  time  even 
thonght  of  ever  leaving  my  native  land. 

"  In  the  course  of  time  this  was  fulfilled.  I 
removed  [after  his  wife's  decease]  with  my  son 
and  his  family  to  America. 

"  While  crossing  the  ocean  we  had  a  great 
storm,  which  lasted  three  days  and  two  nights; 
the  captain  thought  we  were  in  great  danger  of 
being  driven  upon  certain  rocks.  So  great  was 
the  violence  of  the  storm  that  the  hatches  had 
to  be  closed,  and  we  had  no  light  but  that  of  a 
lam[)  hung  to  the  ceiling.  There  was  much 
noise  and  confusion,  there  being  many  passen- 
gers on  board  ;  but  I  lay  me  down  in  peace, 
having  no  fear,  for  I  was  truly  resigned  and 
content.  The  captain,  apprehending  danger, 
came  down  and  told  tiie  people  to  be  still,  for 
he  knew  not  but  we  might  be  swallowed  up  in 
a  short  time  in  the  great  deep.    This  greatly 


14 


MEMOIR  OF 


alarmed  them,  and  [many  of  them]  fell  down 
upon  their  knees,  each  one  praying  after  his 
manner;  some  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  some  to 
St.  Joseph,  and  to  other  saints  as  they  called 
them  ;  but  these  things  did  not  move  me,  for  I 
was  favored  with  a  sure  confidence  that  we 
would  not  ha  swallowed  up  by  the  ocean,  and 
that  not  a  soul  would  be  lost.  About  eleven 
o'clock  at  night  the  storm  suddenly  abated, 
the  winds  were  rebuked  and  were  still.  The 
captain  came  down  and  said,  ^  Be  of  good  cheer, 
we  are  safe!'  I  tell  this  to  the  praise  of  my 
Heavenly  Father,  because  he  fulfilled  his  word 
to  me.  I  wish  all  would  put  their  trust  in 
him,  for  he  will  fulfil  his  word  to  all  that  do, 
in  true  humility,  put  their  trust  in  him.'' 

He  was  not  in  the  way  of  speaking  of  him- 
self, or  of  the  things  he  had  seen  in  the  visions 
of  light,  otherwise  than  in  humility;  for  they 
who  follow  Christ  in  the  regeneration  and  live 
under  the  government  of  his  Spirit,  know  in 
whom  their  strength  lieth,  and  all  their  springs 
to  be  in  him.  Weeping  may  endure  for  a 
night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning,  as  was 
verified  in  the  following  incident  of  his  life, 
given  in  his  own  words,  viz. :  ^'  After  I  came 
to  this  country  and  was  living  on  a  little  place, 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


15 


while  it  was  yet  in  the  woods,  I  was  very 
loDely ;  no  one  living  with  me  but  a  young 
man  who  had  been  one  of  my  scholars  in  Ger- 
many. It  was  a  time  of  trial  to  me,  being  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land.  One  evening  I 
went  into  my  little  chamber  and  lay  me  down 
on  my  bed,  and  falling  asleep  I  had  a  dream 
or  vision;  I  saw  a  bright  light  wdiich  filled 
my  chamber,  and  I  saw  the  appearance  of  a 
man  clothed  in  a  long  white  robe.  I  believed 
it  was  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  came  to 
me  and  said,  ^  What  shall  I  do  for  thee?'  and 
I  said,  '  Lord,  that  I  may  cleave  unto  thee.' 
He  then  said,  '  Xo  man  shall  pluck  thee  out 
of  my  hand.'  And  I  believed  he  would  do  as 
he  said,  and  not  suffer  anything  to  pluck  me 
out  of  his  hand,  but  would  keep  me  in  hum- 
bleness and  resignation,  blessed  be  his  worthy 
name  forever." 

A  dream  he  once  had  was  written  down  at 
his  relation  of  it,  as  follows :  "  I  dreamed  I  was 
standing  in  a  great  wide  field,  and  I  saw^  in  my 
dream  a  great  building  in  the  midst  of  the 
field  ;  the  building  was  four  square,  as  wide  as 
it  was  long,  and  the  height  Avas  the  same  as 
the  breadth ;  the  length,  and  breadth,  and 
height  were  the  same.    The  building  was  as 


16 


MEMOIR  OF 


it  were  of  stone,  very  smooth  and  beautiful  to 
*  look  upon.  A  great  multitude  I  saw  standing 
round  about,  and  looking  upon  this  building 
with  great  admiration.  I  saw  in  it  an  open 
door,  and  when  I  saw  I  went  in  to  see  what 
was  inside.  There  I  saw  another  building  of 
the  same  shape  as  the  outward  building,  but 
smaller.  On  the  four  corners  I  saw  four  trees, 
one  on  each  corner,  very  green  and  beautiful, 
and  the  branches  reached  one  to  the  other, 
round  about.  On  the  inside  of  the  outer  wall 
were  benches  or  seats,  and  on  these  sat  a  few 
persons,  some  three  or  four  women  and  two  or 
three  men,  although  there  were  so  many  on  the 
outside.  On  this  inner  building  I  saw  the 
likeness  of  a  man  clothed  with  a  long  white 
robe,  who  walked  round  about  on  the  top  of 
the  building.  I  could  not  see  his  face,  for  the 
branches  of  the  trees  hid  it  from  my  view ;  but 
I  heard  him  proclaim  in  a  voice  so  sweet  and 
melodious  as  I  never  in  my  life  heard  before ;  1 
cannot  describe  it.  The  voice  proclaimed,  '  My 
sheep  hear  my  voice  and  they  follow  me.'  I 
have  many  times  remembered  this  dream  and 
the  great  building,  which  so  fitly  represents  an 
outward  profession,  in  which  people  come  not 
into  the  inner  temple.    And  when  I  came  into 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


17 


it  I  found  so  few;  so  true  it  is,  many  are  called 
but  few  are  chosen.  Oh,  I  much  desire  that 
all  my  dear  friends  may  make  their  calling 
and  election  sure." 

He  was  greatly  desirous  that  Friends  might 
be  preserved,  as  he  expressed  it,  in  the  clean 
doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  not  look  after  the 
wisdom  and  prudence  of  men,  but  to  the  true 
Teacher.  "  This  is  life  eternal,  to  know  thee, 
the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom 
thou  hast  sent for  it  is  not  enough  to  have 
a  mere  belief  of  God  and  of  Jesus  Christ  by 
the  letter,  but  we  must  know  him  by  his 
Spirit.  "  I  am  very  sorrowful,'^  said  he,  "  that 
we  are  so  divided  ;  we  came  together  as  the 
people  of  God;  but  our  hearts  are  divided. 
There  is  too  much  of  the  world,  and  not 
enough  of  the  love  of  God  amongst  us.  I  want 
my  dear  Friends  to  know  the  difference  be- 
tween the  love  of  God  and  the  love  of  this  world. 
The  love  of  God  is  sweet,  and  overcomes  the 
love  of  the  icorld ;  it  teaches  us  to  love  our 
neighbors  as  ourselves;  by  it  we  will  do  good 
to  our  neighbor.  When  this  love  is  in  us  we 
cannot  speak  evil  of  our  neighbor,  our  brother 
or  sister,  or  do  them  any  harm  in  any  way. 
The  love  of  the  world  is  not  so,  for  the  world 
2 


18 


MEMOIR  OP 


loveth  its  own  ;  it  loveth  according  to  its  inter- 
ests, but  when  contrary  to  its  interests  it 
changeth.  Oh!  my  dear  friends,  I  wish  we 
might  remember  what  the  Lord  Jesus  has  done, 
and  what  he  has  commanded.  He  went  about 
doing  good,  and  said:  new  commandment 
I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  another; 
even  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love 
one  another.  By  this  shall  all  men  know  that 
ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love  one  unto 
another.^  When  the  penitent  prodigal  son 
was  returning  to  his  father's  house,  how  did  his 
father  do?  Did  he  upbraid  him,  and  tell  him 
he  had  done  very  wrong;  that  he  had  wasted 
all  his  living?  Oh!  no;  but  when  he  was  a 
great  way  olf  his  father  saw  him,  and  had  com- 
passion on  him,  and  ran  and  fell  on  his  neck 
and  kissed  him.  He  did  not  upbraid  him,  but 
said  to  the  servants.  Bring  hither  the  best  robe 
and  put  it  on  him,  and  put  a  ring  on  his  finger 
and  shoes  on  his  feet,  and  bring  hither  the 
fatted  calf  and  kill  it,  and  let  us  rejoice,  for 
this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again,  was 
lost,  and  is  found.  So  here  we  see,  in  this  para- 
ble, the  great  love  and  compassion  of  our 
Heavenly  Father  towards  poor  fallen  man, 
how  compassionate  towards  the  returning  peni- 
tent sinner.'' 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


19 


This  dear  friend  often  dwelt  on  the  import- 
ance of  being  brought  under  the  influence  of 
Divine  love,  and  in  a  letter  to  his  friends  in 
Germany,  thus  wrote,  "The  love  of  God,  the 
Divine  love  which  is  shed  abroad  in  ray  heart, 
constraineth  me  to  do  this,  for  by  experience  I 
know  it  to  be  true  what  the  Apostle  saitli, 
without  this  Divine  love  or  charity  all  the 
wisdom  of  man  is  vain,  for  this  is  the  bond  of 
perfectness ;  but  when  this  love  dwelLs  in  us, 
we  come  to  feel  our  hearts  changed,  and  that 
they  have  become  soft  and  tender  to  all  men, 
and  even  to  the  beasts  too.  And  we  come  to 
feel  it  for  all  men  as  for  ourselves  ;  the  spirit 
of  usury  is  cast  out,  and  the  sweet  love  of  God 
fills  us  with  gladness  and  joy,  and  we  come  to 
sing  psalms  in  our  heart  ;  yes,  in  this  situation 
we  will  know  God  aright,  for  without  this  love 
we  cannot  know  him  aright.  Oh,  how  sweet 
is  this  Divine  love  !  Whosoever  has  felt  it 
will  desire  more  and  more  to  feel  it.  It  is  true 
what  the  Apostle  John  saith,  '  God  is  love,  and 
whosoever  abideth  in  love  abideth  in  God, 
and  God  in  him.'  Oh,  my  dear  friends,  how 
happy  is  that  man  who  has  become  the  temple 
of  God  (and  is  brouglit  thus  to  experience) ; 
for  (in)  this  is  the  true  knowledge  of  God,  and 


20 


MEiMOIR  OF 


of  Jesus  Christ  ;  and  (in)  this  is  eternal  life; 
(in)  this  is  that  new  name  which  no  man 
knoweth,  save  he  Avho  receiveth  it;  (in)  this 
is  that  new  birth  which  is  not  only  a  new  con- 
fession, but  a  new  and  clean  heart.    But  oh, 
the  tongues  of  men  and  angels  are  not  able  to 
utter  or  declare  the  glorious  love  of  God.  It 
is  my  sincere  wish  that  we  may  all  become 
partakers  of  this  glorious  love,  that  we  may 
come  to  deny  ourselves,  for  without  this  denial 
we  cannot  receive  this    love  and  this  new 
name;  but  if  we  are  willing  to  deny  ourselves, 
then  God  is  willing  and  gracious  to  help  us.^^ 
About  ten  years   before  his  death,  after 
having  been  at  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  held  at 
Pennsville,  Ohio,  he  said,    Soon  after  taking 
my  seat,  all  within  me  was  brought  into  great 
stillness,  such  as  I  never  before  felt,  when  a 
voice  sounded  in  my  inward  ear  as  plainly  as 
I  ever  heard  a  voice  with  my  outward  ear, 
'  My  son,  thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee.'  This 
made  me  tremble,  and  my  whole  frame  was 
shaken.     After  awhile  I  was  gathered  into 
the  same  stillness  as  before,  and  the  same  voice 
saluted  my  inward  ear,  '  My  son,  be  comforted, 
thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee.'    Again  my  frame 
was  shaken,  and  all  witiiin  me  was  brought 


HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


21 


into  silent  admiration,  when  the  same  voice 
repeated,  '  My  son,  be  comforted,  thy  sins  are 
forgiven  thee,  and  no  man  shall  be  able  to 
pluck  thee  out  of  my  hand.'  "  This  he  related 
in  humility,  evidently  realizing  in  simplicity 
so  great  a  mercy.  After  this  the  enemy  pre- 
vailed not  with  his  temptations,  and  he  ap- 
peared to  enjoy  a  foretaste  of  heaven  while  in 
the  body  ;  and  his  assurance  of  a  blessed  im- 
mortality was  so  full  that  divers  times  he  was 
heard  to  say,  "  The  enemy  has  no  power  to 
take  me  from  my  Father's  hand." 

The  apostle  James,  rich  in  faith,  and  a 
scribe  deeply  instructed  unto  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,''  in  writing  to  the  twelve  tribes 
then  scattered  abroad,  uses  this  language, 
"  The  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and 

the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up  Confess 

your  faults  one  to  another,  and  pray  one  for 
another  that  ye  may  be  healed.  The  effectual, 
fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth 
much."  (Jas.  5:  15,  16.)  A  circumstance 
worthy  of  mention  in  the  life  of  Henry  Rob- 
berman  is  strikingly  corroborative  of  the 
apostle's  faith  as  above  set  forth,  and  shows 
moreover  that  it  still  remains  a  truth  that  the 
Lord's  hand  is  not  shortened  that  it  cannot 


22 


MEMOIR  OF 


save,  neither  his  ear  grown  heavy  that  it 
cannot  hear,  although  there  be  many  whose 
iniquities  separate  between  them  and  their 
God,  and  because  of  whose  sins  he  may  hide 
his  face  from  them. 

The  circumstance  alluded  to  was  substan- 
tially as  follows :  A  neighbor  was  suddenly 
taken  extremely  ill,  with  the  loss  of  his  reason, 
so  as  to  require  the  assistance  of  several  men 
to  restrain  him,  and  he  remained  in  a  sad  con- 
dition for  some  time,  insomuch  that  arrange- 
ments were  being  made  to  take  him  to  an 
asylum;  but  belbrc  they  were  carried  into 
effect  he  was  suddenly  restored  to  health  and 
to  his  usual  state  of  mind,  and  so  reuiained. 

His  restoration  occurred  one  Sixth  Day, 
about  the  eleventh  hour  in  the  day. 

Some  months  after  this,  Henry  Robberman 
being  at  a  neighbor's  house,  the  restored  man 
came  in,  but  was  not  recognized  by  H.  R., 
whose  sight  was  dim.  When  opportunity 
offered  in  another  room,  he  inquired  of  a 
friend  present,  who  it  was  that  came.  On 
being  told,  he  replied,  "  I  did  not  know  it  was 
he,"  and  added,  I  will  tell  thee  something. 
Thou  knowest  he  was  deranged  or  crazy.  Well 
I  was  exceedingly  sorry  for  this;  I  was  sorry 


HENRY   ROBBER  xM  AN. 


23 


for  his  wife  and  children,  and  I  was  sorry  for 
him  too,  and  on  a  Sixth  Day  I  was  out  in  the 
clearing,  cutting  w^ood,  when  my  heart  was 
filled  with  compassion.  I  laid  down  my  axe 
and  sat  down  upon  a  log,  and  prayed  in  my 
heart  that  the  Lord  would  heal  him;  and  the 
answer  came  so  siceef,  will  heal  him  this 
same  hour;'  and  I  believed  the  Lord  would  do 
as  he  said."  This  was  about  the  eleventh 
hour,  and  that  afternoon  he  heard  of  the  res- 
toration at  the  hour  mentioned.  Henry 
further  said,  "  I  am  thankful  that  I  have  lived 
to  this  day,  and  that  the  Lord  heard  my 
prayer.'^  Under  a  Christian  feeling  of  humility 
and  gratitude,  he  did  not  wish  it  told,  but 
said,  "  Give  the  Lord  all  the  praise."  He  Avas 
truly  one  of  those  little  ones  unto  whom  the 
Lord  in  condescension  sees  meet,  at  seasons,  to 
unfold  his  secrets,  hid  from  the  wise  and  pru- 
dent of  this  world,  but  revealed  unto  babes  in 
Christ. 

During  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  he 
passed  through  much  pain  and  exercise  of 
body  and  mind,  yet  it  was  evident  that  the 
Lord's  sustaining  hand  was  near  to  strengthen 
and  support  him.  He  often  spoke  of  the 
inward  sweetness,  peace,  and    comfort  the 


24      MEMOIR  OF  HENRY  ROBBERMAN. 


Lord  was  pleased  to  afford  him  in  his  afflic- 
tion, being  renewedly  favored  with  the  consol- 
ing assurance  of  the  gracious  promise,  which 
for  some  years  had  been  sealed  to  him,  '^Thou 
art  mine,  I  have  redeemed  thee,  and  no  man 
shall  be  able  to  pluck  thee  out  of  my  hand/' 

To  some  who  visited  him  in  his  last  illness 
he  imparted  good  counsel,  desiring  them,  in  a 
lively  and  impressive  manner,  to  keep  to  an 
inward  watchfulness,  and  mind  the  will  of 
God.  At  parting  he  expressed  his  love  to 
them,  and  signified  his  readiness  to  go  at  any 
time  the  Lord  might  be  pleased  to  take  him. 

The  day  he  died,  two  Friends  went  to  see 
him,  and  found  him,  though  evidently  near 
his  end,  bright  and  clear  in  his  memory  and 
understanding.  He  uttered  many  comfortable 
expressions,  among  which  was,  "  I  desire  to 
depart  and  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better, 
but  not  my  will,  but  the  will  of  God  be  done." 

In  the  evening,  after  taking  some  refresh- 
ment, he  said,  "Now  I  shall  soon  be  gone;" 
and  at  half-past  six  (on  the  sixth  of  Sixth 
Month,  1860)  he  passed  quietly  away,  as  one 
going  into  a  sweet  sleep,  in  the  eighty-seventh 
year  of  his  age;  and  was  interred  on  the  eighth, 
in  Friends'  burying-ground  at  Chesterfield,  in 
Morgan  County,  Ohio. 


MEMOIR 

OF 

THOMAS  WARING, 

LATE  OF  WEST  XOTTIXGHAM,  CECIL  CO., 
MARYLA^^D. 

WITH  SOME  REFERENCE  TO  HIS  ANCESTRY. 


IxASMLXH  as  the  memory  of  the  just  is 
blessed,"  I  have  believed  it  would  be  right  to 
place  in  a  form  for  preservation  some  account 
of  my  father's  pilgrimage  through  time,  with 
reference  to  his  concern  to  obtain  a  treasure 
more  lasting  and  surpassing  in  value  gold 
that  perisheth ;  peradventure  it  may  prove  an 
incentive  to  some,  especially  of  his  descendants, 
to  walk  by  the  same  rule,  and  to  be  mindful 
of  the  same  things,  that  they  like  him  may  in 
the  end  lay  down  their  heads  in  peace. 

Thomas  AVaring  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and 
3 


26 


MEMOIR  OF 


Mary  Waring,  and  was  born  in  tlie  county  of 
Wexforcl,  Ireland,  on  tlie  tenth  day  of  Twelfth 
Month,  1754.  He  was  of  the  third  generation 
in  lineal  descent  from  Joseph  Waring,  of  that 
place,  who  was  convinced  of  the  truth  as  pro- 
fessed by  those  then  in  derision  called  Quakers, 
in  or  about  the  year  1690,  received  a  gift  in 
the  ministry,  and  was  an  example  of  meekness 
and  self-denial.  He  was  careful  for  his  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren,  of  whom  he  had  many, 
endeavoring  by  example  and  precept  to  bring 
them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord. 

He  died  in  a  good  old  age,  about  the  year 
1744  or  1745.  One  of  his  children  was  named 
Joseph,  of  whom  it  is  written  by  one  of  liis 
descendants,  ^'Though  he  had  no  gift  in  the 
ministry,  he  was  a  h^ver  of  truth,  and  was 
careful  to  inculcate  it  into  the  minds  of  his 
offspring,  of  which  I  am  a  witness. 

"  The  lively  remembrance  of  some  of  his 
many  solemn  opportunities  with  me  in  private, 
even  when  very  young,  reduces  my  mind  to  a 
state  of  humble  reverence  and  contrition  at  the 
writing  hereof.^' 

He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Grandy, 
daughter  of  John  Grandy,  of  the  same  county. 


THOMAS  WARING. 


27 


about  the  year  1722,  who  appears  to  have  been 
a  woman  of  acknowledged  piety. 

Among  the  records  of  the  Monthly  Meeting 
of  that  county,  of  which  she  was  a  member, 
was  found  the  following  account  of  her  decease : 
"Elizabeth  Waring  departed  this  life  the  sixth 
day  of  Second  Month,  1740.  She  was  of  an 
innocent  life  and  conversation,  and  bore  testi- 
mony several  times  in  her  sickness  that  the 
Lord  had  often  favored  her  with  his  Divine 
presence,  and  that  she  then  felt  him  near,  to 
her  great  comfort.  And  about  two  hours 
before  she  drew  her  last  breath,  she  sensibly 
said  to  a  Friend  whom  she  loved  dearly,  that 
the  Lord  was  good  unto  her,  and  that  the 
peace  and  sweetness  which  she  then  enjoyed 
was  beyond  what  could  be  expressed  in  words. 
And  so  she  laid  down  her  head  in  peace  in  the 
Lord,  and  left  a  good  savour  behind  her.  She 
was  buried  in  Friends'  burying-ground  at 
Raheen,  aged  just  forty-two  years. 

Their  son  Josepli,  my  grandfather,  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Oder,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Oder,  of  Waterford,  on  the  twenty -sev- 
enth day  of  Tenth  Month,  1747;  and  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  Fifth  Month,  1775,  they  sailed 
for  America  with  their  family  of  five  children, 


28 


MEMOIR  OF 


and  after  a  passage  of  seven  weeks  landed  at 
Baltimore  on  the  first  day  of  the  Seventh 
Month,  and  thence  they  reached  Philadelphia 
on  the  sixth  of  the  same ;  but  removed  to 
Brick-Meeting-house,  East  [N'ottingham,  in 
Cecil  County,  Maryland,  on  the  fourth  of 
Eleventh  Month,  in  the  same  year,  where  he 
continued  his  residence  during  life. 

Although,  like  many  others,  too  much  of  his 
time  may  have  been  allowed  to  pass  away 
without  due  care  in  securing  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  yet  he  a[)pears  to  have  been  made  some 
use  of  in  the  Society ;  and  I  find  in  my  father's 
handwriting  the  following  account  of  his  close: 

"  On  the  fifth  day  of  the  Ninth  Month,  1789, 
my  dear  father  departed  this  life,  after  a  short  . 

sickness  Towards  the  latter  part  of  his 

time  he  was  much  altered  for  the  better,  being 
often  concerned  with  tenderness  of  heart  to  re- 
deem the  time;  nearly  the  last  he  could  be 
understood  to  say  was,  that  he  felt  easy  in  his 
mind." 

In  his  son  William's  handwriting  is  found  a 
more  extended  account,  thus  :  "  Because  thine 
heart  was  tender,  and  thou  hast  humbled  thy- 
self before  the  Lord,  when  thou  heardst  what 
I  spake  against  this  place,  and  against  the  in- 


THOMAS  WARING. 


29 


habitants  thereof,  that  they  should  become  a 
desolation  and  a  curse,  and  rent  thy  clothes, 
and  wept  before  me ;  I  also  have  heard  thee, 
saith  the  Lord.  Behold,  therefore,  I  will  gather 
thee  unto  thy  fathers,  and  thou  slialt  be  gath- 
ered into  thy  grave  in  peace."  (2d  Kings,  22  : 
19,  20.)  ''Joseph  Waring,  of  East  Notting- 
ham, who  departed  this  life  on  the  fifth  of  the 
Ninth  Month,  1789,  in  the  64th  year  of  his 
age,  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
\Yaring,  of  Wexford  County,  Ireland.  He  was 
religiously  educated  by  his  pious  parents  in 
the  profession  of  the  truth  as  held  by  the  peo- 
ple called  Quakers.  Even  in  the  days  of  his 
youth  he  was  made  sensible  that  whatsoever 
doth  make  manifest  is  light;  by  the  secret  il- 
luminations of  which  he  saw  and  approved  the 
things  which  are  excellent.  Yet,  having  ex- 
perienced that  although  the  spirit  indeed  was 
willing,  the  flesh  was  weak,  he  was  at  times 
humbly  contrited,  under  a  sense  of  his  own 
insufficiency,  and  had  to  sing  not  only  of  judg- 
ment but  also  of  mercy. 

''Towards  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he 
was  more  and  more  strengthened  to  keep 
covenant  from  things  which  perish  with  the 
using.     SoQie  solid  Friends,  who  repeatedly 


30 


MEMOIR  OF 


visited  him  during  his  last  illness  (which  was 
short),  and  were  present  at  the  solemn  time  of 
his  departure,  as  well  as  his  nearest  connec- 
tions, have  the  satisfactory  belief  that  he  is  gone 
to  rest  in  endless  peace  ;  and  it  appeared  by  the 
kind  attention  of  his  friends  and  neighbors  in 
general  that  they  bore  him  a  respectful  regard." 

My  father,  Thomas  Waring,  cherished  a 
grateful  sense  of  his  parents'  care  over  him 
while  he  was  young;  even  when  past  the  me- 
ridian of  life  he  referred  to  it,  and  to  the  ten- 
derness which  he  was  brought  under  at  seasons 
when  they  would  have  their  family  collected, 
and  read  to  them  portions  of  the  Scripture, 
sometimes  followed  by  tender  and  affectionate 
counsel  to  their  children.  A  mother's  tears  on 
some  of  these  occasions  had  a  reachino^  effect 
that  remained  with  freshness  in  his  remem- 
brance. 

His  opportunities  for  education  were  limited. 
He  had  access  to  school  perhaps  less  than  three 
months,  and  when  there,  was  made  a  subject  of 
ridicule  for  using  the  plain  language;  but  by 
application  at  home  he  advanced  himself  suf- 
ficiently for  the  ordinary  business  of  life. 

From  his  account,  he  was  much  exposed  in 
boyhood  to  rude  and  unprofitable  company, 


THOMAS  WARING. 


31 


in  which  the  use  of  the  plain  language  elicited 
scoffs  and  sneers  not  easy  for  human  nature  to 
endure  ;  yet  even  at  this  period  he  was  led  into 
serious  reflections  on  the  subject,  and  brought 
to  believe  that  if  he  did  not  bear  the  cross  and 
be  faithful  to  his  impressions  of  duty  in  this 
respect,  he  would  not  groW'  in  religious  expe- 
rience; and  when  he  gave  up  thereto  he  felt 
peace. 

He  has  been  heard  to  refer  to  the  effect  which 
the  counsel  of  his  older  brother  had  upon  him 
in  these  times  of  exposure.  In  a  letter  to  his 
brother's  widow  he  refers  to  their  boyhood 
thus  :  ^'  The  many  o})portunities  he  took  with 
me  when  we  were  boys  together,  and  the  ten- 
derness of  his  spirit  at  such  times,  made  a  deep 
impression  on  my  mind,  and  was,  I  believe, 
a  great  means  of  preserving  me  from  running 
into  many  hurtful  things  that  I  otherwise 
might  have  done.  His  concern  for  me  was 
great,  that  I  might  not  be  content  Avith  a  pro- 
fession of  the  truth,  or  a  plain  appearance, 
which  I  was  brought  up  in ;  but  that  it  might 
be  my  daily,  frequent  concern  to  feel  after  that 
tenderness  of  mind,  wherein  living  desires 
might  be  raised  in  me  for  my  own  preserva- 
tion." 


32 


MEMOIR  OF 


He  spent  seven  summers  in  the  State  of  Del- 
aware, farming  on  shares  for  Joseph  Cham- 
bers, on  the  east  bank  of  Whiteclay  Creek, 
during  which  time,  it  is  said,  they  differed  but 
once,  and  that  was  in  dividing  the  last  crop, 
when  each  charged  the  other  with  not  taking 
enough. 

During  these  seven  years  he  spent  the  win- 
ters with  his  parents  at  East  Nottingham, 
engaged  at  his  trade  of  turning  wooden  ware, 
a  ware  then  in  demand,  and  a  business  afford- 
ing a  profit. 

It  appears  by  the  terms  of  the  purchase  of 
his  freehold  estate  at  West  Nottingham,  that 
he  was  to  have  possession  of  it  on  the  first  day 
of  Fourth  Month,  1787;  at  which  time  it 
seems  most  likely  he  took  up  his  residence 
upon  it,  and  continued  there  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  except  a  year  or  two  on  his  first  wife's 
estate. 

He  was  married,  on  the  fifth  of  Ninth  Month, 
17i)8,  to  Jane  Reynolds,  widow  of  Levi  Rey- 
nolds, of  AYest  Nottingham,  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Ann  King,  of  Little  Britain. 
She  was  removed  by  death  in  less  than  a  year 
after  their  marriage.  After  her  decease  he 
wrote  a  short  testimony  to  her  worth,  to  her 


THOMAS  WARING. 


33 


example  and  counsel  in  life,  and  full  resigna- 
tion at  the  approach  of  death,  which  she  ap- 
peared to  be  looking  for  as  near,  "  saying  with 
heartfelt  sincerity,  that  she  had  no  other  con- 
cern upon  her  mind  but  to  be  ready." 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  Eleventh  Month, 
1801,  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Wilson,  of 
West  Grove,  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Martha  Wilson,  of 
Bucks  County.  She  survived  him  nearly  twelve 
years.  In  the  decline  of  her  life,  as  her  bodily 
strength  abated,  a  mildness  and  serenity  of 
mind  became  more  clearly  conspicuous,  inso- 
much that  under  bodily  sulFering  and  affliction 
she  was  not  heard  to  murmur,  but  evinced  a 
cheerfulness  that  fell  as  an  evening  sunshine 
around  her,  and  thus  she  passed  quietly  away 
in  her  ninety-first  year. 

My  father  related  a  dream  he  had  while  a 
resident  at  East  Xottingham,  wherein  he  saw 
a  cloud  arise  in  the  east,  which,  coming  up  and 
spreading  over,  broke  out  into  a  storm  and 
swept  away  all  the  members  from  that  meeting 
but  himself.  And  so  it  proved  to  be,  that  in 
the  threat  commotion  or  storm  that  arose  in  the 
east  and  spread  over  the  Society,  breaking  out 
into  a  division  in  1827  and  1828,  sweeping 


34 


MEMOIR  OF 


many  in  its  coursej  none  remained  with  him 
in  support  of  the  testimonies  of  Friends  on 
primitive  ground,  who  at  the  time  of  this 
dream  were  members  of  that  meeting. 

He  also  related  a  dream  he  had,  as  I  under- 
stood him,  in  the  early  part  of  his  residence  at 
West  Nottingham,  in  wdiich  he  and  another 
Friend  were  in  the  meeting-house,  and  seeing 
the  Great  Deceiver  of  men  make  his  appear- 
ance and  attempt  to  enter,  he  said  to  the  other 
Friend,  Now,  Samuel,  we  are  young  and 
strong,  and  if  we  cannot  keep  him  out  who 
can  ?"  And  to  wrestling  with  him  they  went, 
and  after  a  time  succeeded  in  getting  him  out 
and  shutting  the  door  against  him;  but  pres- 
ently they  saw  him  at  the  window  effecting  an 
entrance  there.  With  much  exertion  they  pre- 
vailed in  keeping  him  back  and  fastening  the 
windows,  thinking  they  now  had  him  mastered 
and  were  secure  ;  but  soon  they  perceived  him 
entering  at  the  door  through  the  keyhole,  and 
here  the  dream  ended — significant  (shall  we 
not  say  ?)  not  only  of  our  great  need  of  wrest- 
ling against  him  and  striving  for  the  mastery, 
but  also  of  being  continually  on  the  watch  lest 
he  find  entrance  through  some  small  and  un- 
looked-for opening,  and  take  secretly  a  seat 


THOMAS  WARING. 


35 


within.  The  more  he  finds  place  within,  the 
more  power  he  sways  there,  and  accordingly 
the  more  our  power  weakens  to  resist  him. 

Probably  about  the  year  1803,  being  en- 
gaged as  executor  in  settling  an  estate,  h"fe  be- 
came defendant  in  a  suit  that  required  his 
attendance  at  court;  and  not  being  free  to  com- 
ply with  the  custom  of  taking  off  the  hat  in 
honor  to  man,  it  was  several  times  taken  from 
his  head  by  an  officer  of  the  court.  One  day, 
on  entering  the  court-room,  and  remaining  in 
diffidence  by  the  door,  he  saw  the  crier  arise 
from  his  seat  and  come  directly  towards  him, 
and  supposed  his  hat  was  about  to  be  taken  ; 
but  instead  of  this  the  crier  placed  his  hand 
upon  him  and  queried,  "  Are  you  a  real 
Quaker?''  T.  W.  replied,  "I  profess  to  be 
one."  Crier:  "If  you  are  a  real  Quaker, you 
may  keep  on  your  hat."  T.  W. :  "  By  what 
authority  dost  thou  give  me  that  informa- 
tion ?"  Crier  :  The  court  has  taken  it  into 
consideration,  and  concluded  that  real  Quakers 
may  keep  on  their  hats."  Then  turning  to  a 
member,  not  always  true  to  our  profession,  he 
added,  ''But  you  shall  take  your  hat  off." 

From  this  circumstance  my  father  thought 
himself  the  first  person  admitted  to  remain  in 


86 


MEMOIR  OF 


I 


the  Elkton  court  with  his  hat  on,  and  felt  a 
secret  satisfaction  and  reward  in  having  stead- 
fastly adhered  to  the  testimony  of  truth,  in- 
stead of  playing  the  coward  in  this  respect, 
and  believed  he  did  not  lose  the  respect  of  the 
court  in  this  adherence. 

Several  persons  being  one  day  together  and 
conversing,  among  other  things,  upon  the  hon- 
esty of  men,  one  of  the  company  advanced  a 
doubt  whether  there  were  any  strictly  honest 
men  in  the  community;  when  a  Presbyterian 
spoke  up  and  said,  "There  is  one  honest  man 
in  the  neighborhood.  T.  W.  is  an  honest  man; 
he  sold  a  farm  for  more  than  he  gave,  and 
divided  the  surplus  with  the  widow  of  the 
man  of  whom  the  farm  was  obtained. 

The  same  Presbyterian,  on  another  occasion, 
remarked  that  T.  W.  was  the  only  Quaker 
he  ever  knew ;  all  the  rest  dabbled  in  politics 
a  little,  but  T.  W.  never  meddled.'^  He  en- 
deavored through  life  to  keep  out  of  the  heats 
and  commotions  attendant  on  political  strife, 
believing  these  to  have  a  tendency  to  retard  a 
growth  in  best  things ;  that  true  Friends  are 
called  with  a  better  calling;  and  that  it  is  in- 
cumbent upon  them  to  mind  their  calling,  and 
to  endeavor  to  know  their  own  election,  through 


THOMAS  WARING. 


37 


grace,  to  be  made  sure,  Jerusalem  to  be  a 
quiet  habitation,  a  tabernacle  that  shall  not  be 
taken  down, — a  place  of  broad  rivers  and 
streams,  wherein  shall  go  no  galley  with  oars, 
neither  gallant  ship  pass  thereby. 

Having  filled  the  position  of  overseer  for 
some  years,  he  remarked  after  his  release,  that 
in  looking  oyer  his  care  and  labors  under  that 
appointment,  he  found  but  one  thing  to  regret, 
which  was  a  failure  to  take  an  opportunity 
with  a  member  older  than  himself,  whom  he 
overheard  in  the  use  of  some  hasty  and  un- 
becoming expressions. 

After  his  appointment  to  the  station  of 
Elder,  probably  at  the  first  select  meeting 
which  he  attended,  in  answering  the  query  in 
regard  to  the  ministry,  the  sentiment  was  ad- 
vanced that  a  minister  on  a  certain  occasion 
had  extended  a  communication  too  long.  He 
had  been  present  on  that  occasion,  and  had 
received  the  latter  part  of  the  commnnication 
as  a  gospel  message  to  himself,  and  therefore 
could  own  it  as  in  the  truth.  This  led  him  to 
be  cautious,  seeing  the  great  need  of  being  deep 
and  weighty  in  judging  of  the  ministry. 

After  the  separation  which  took  place  here 
in  1828,  a  few  Friends,  in  addition  to  himself 


38 


MEMOIR  OF 


and  family,  essaying  to  adhere  to  the  primitive 
doctrines  and  testimonies  of  Friends,  it  seemed 
befitting  that  these  should  meet  together,  aside 
from  counter  influence,  and  in  unity,  for  divine 
worship.  Accordingly  the  meeting  was  held 
at  his  house  from  the  15th  day  of  Eighth 
Month,  1830,  until  the  meeting-house  was 
built  on  the  southern  part  of  his  land,  near 
the  place  now  called  Colora,  to  which  the 
meeting  was  moved  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
1841.  The  last  time  he  wrote  his  name  was 
in  signing  a  deed  of  conveyance  for  the  ground 
on  which  the  meeting-house  stands. 

His  view^s  and  feelings  in  regard  to  this 
meeting,  and  our  meetings  in  general,  appear 
to  be  in  measure  set  forth  in  a  letter  to  a  friend 
under  date  of  Eighth  Month,  15th,  1830, 
thus:  *^For  thy  satisfaction  I  may  inform  thee, 
the  subject  hinted  at  in  thy  letter,  of  sitting 
in  our  own  house  in  order  for  worship,  has 
been  a  subject  of  considerable  thoughtfulness 
to  me,  for  fear  we  should  not  be  able  to  hold 
meetings  to  the  honor  of  him  whom  we  profess 
to  worship,  and  to  the  promotion  of  the  good 
cause.  However,  in  much  fear,  for  the  first 
time  we  have  attended  it  to-day,  with  a  pros- 
pect of  continuing  to  hold  meetings  for  wor- 


THOMAS  WARING. 


39 


ship  on  first  and  fifth  days,  if  we  may  be 
fiivored  to  get  along  to  our  OAvn  and  friends' 
satisfaction  My  great  concern  for  my- 
self and  for  all  who  profess  to  adhere  to  and 
siippvort  the  ancient  principles  of  the  Society 
[is,  that  we]  may  be  truly  alive  in  the  prin- 
ciple.; that  we  might  manifest  it  to  be  the  case 
by  our  exemplary  lives,  conduct,  and  conver- 
sation ;  but  I  fear  there  are  too  many,  even  of 
those  alluded  to,  that  dwell  too  much  in  the 
outward  court ;  that  are  too  destitute  of  those 
spiritual  feelings  and  qualifications  that  would 
suitably  qualify  to  labor  advantageously  in 
the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness That  thou  and  I  may  be  so  es- 
tablished on  that  foundation  that  standeth 
sure,  that  neither  heights  nor  depths,  princi- 
palities nor  powers,  things  present  nor  yet  to 
come,  may  ever  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  is  what  I  crave  at  this 
time.'' 

Abiding  under  a  concern  for  the  deepening 
of  the  Society,  and  its  preservation  on  the  an- 
cient foundation,  he  soon  became  uneasy  with 
"something  he  saw  springing  up,  at  first  like 
small  innovations  in  doctrine,  which  lie  could 


40 


MEMOIR  OF 


not  own  or  feel  in  the  root  of  life ;  something 
which  he  feared  was  not  duly  restrained,  and 
must,  therefore,  like  the  letting  out  of  waters, 
run  and  spread,  and  carry  the  incautious  on 
its  glittering  surface ;  and  for  this  he  saw  no 
remedy  but  in  faithfulness  and  a  return  to  first 
principles. 

He  was  a  kind  and  tender  parent,  desirous 
of  restraining  those  under  his  care  from  hurt- 
ful company,  that  might  draw  them  away  into 
estrangement  from  a  love  for  the  truth.  He 
mostly  collected  his  family,  on  first  day  after- 
noons, reading  or  having  read  portions  of 
Scripture  or  other  religious  matter,  closing 
with  a  suitable  pause  and  impressive  quiet, 
not  unfrequently  accompanied  with  tender  and 
reaching  counsel  like  unto  sowing  good  seed, 
to  spring  up  in  due  time  if  properly  cherished; 
and  I  trust  his  labor  w^as  not  all  bestowed  in 
vain. 

His  labors  in  the  Church  were  sound  and 
instructive.  He  frequently,  in  meetings  for 
discipline,  cautioned  Friends  to  this  effect,  that 
they  dwell  in  the  life,  and  that  they  guard 
against  getting  along  in  too  easy  a  manner,  or 
in  an  unconcerned  way,  living  as  it  were  with- 
out God  in  the  world ;  but  that  they  labor  to 


THOMAS  WARING. 


41 


keep  open  those  avenues  by  which  we  may 
approach  the  Almighty,  breathing  unto  him 
for  mercy  and  for  preservation.  He  also  re- 
minded Friends  that  each  must  do  the  work  for 
himself.  No  man  can  redeem  his  brother  or 
give  to  God  a  ransom  for  him,  but  each  must 
work  out  his  own  soul's  salvation  with  fear 
and  trembling  before  the  Lord.  And  he 
further  called  upon  the  youth,  with  tender 
entreaty,  to  come  up  in  a  living  consistency 
with  the  profession  we  are  making ;  giving  it 
as  his  belief  that  much  growth  in  grace  and 
religious  experience  Avould  not  be  witnessed  by 
them  until  those  outward  marks  of  disciple- 
ship,  which  characterized  our  early  Friends, 
plainness  of  speech,  behavior,  and  apparel,  be 
put  on  and  kept  to.  He  also  appealed  to  pa- 
rents on  their  behalf,  saying  that  great  respon- 
sibility must  rest  upon  them,  to  train  up  their 
tender  offspring  in  the  way  they  should  go, 
that  when  they  are  old  they  may  not  depart 
from  it.  He  not  unfrequently  alluded  to  the 
importance  of  becoming  more  and  more  alive 
in  the  truth,  especially  the  younger  members, 
that  they  might  thereby  be  qualified  to  become 
true  and  faithful  standard-bearers,  ready  to 
take  the  places  of  those  who  have  borne  the 
4 


42 


MEMOIR  OF 


burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  when  these  shall 
be  removed  from  works  to  rewards. 

It  would  appear  from  a  remark  made  in 
conversation  with  a  pious  neighbor,  that  he 
sometimes  (we  know  not  how  often)  retired  to 
some  secluded  place,  with  his  mind  turned  in- 
ward, and  with  breathings  of  spirit  to  the 
Father  of  mercies  for  help  and  for  preserva- 
tion, and  that  he  had  found  these  to  be  seasons 
of  Divine  favor. 

He  spoke  on  more  occasions  than  one,  in  his 
family,  of  the  importance  of  being  prepared 
for  our  solemn  change,  when  the  pale  messen- 
ger shall  be  sent  to  our  houses,  saying :  "  You 
will  then  be  left  without  excuse.  In  health  is 
the  time  to  prepare  for  death,  and  the  sooner 
we  begin  the  easier  will  the  work  be;  it  is 
dangerous  to  put  it  off;  saying,  ^Go  thy  way 
for  this  time,  when  I  have  a  more  convenient 
season  I  will  call  for  thee.^  Such  season  may 
never  come.  Oh  that  you  may  close  in  with 
the  offers  of  his  mercy !  We  know  not  that 
another  day  may  be  ours.  The  Lord  loves  an 
early  sacrifice :  ^  I  love  them  that  love  me,  and 
those  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me.' " 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  a  solicitude  was 
manifested  for  his  grandchildren,  that  they 


THOMAS  WARING. 


43 


might  be  broiiglit  up  in  tlie  fear  of  the  Lord, 
and  be  favored  to  overcome  the  many  evils 
that  abound  in  the  world. 

As  his  outward  man  grew  weaker,  the  staid- 
ness  of  his  mind  and  of  his  countenance  indi- 
cated that  he  had  a  staff  to  lean  on,  a  rock  to 
stand  upon,  even  that  rock  whence  water  has 
issued  in  all  ages  for  the  refreshment  of  the 
thirsty  traveller  Zionward,  and  of  which  the 
righteous  are  given  to  partake  and  realize  as 
water  springing  up  into  everlasting  life. 

At  this  period  his  mind  was  much  weaned 
from  the  world  and  its  fading  enjoyments,  he 
having  been  careful  to  seek  first  the  kingdom 
of  God  and  his  righteousness  as  his  most 
highly  prized  treasure.  He  was  heard  to  say 
that  his  greatest  concern  was  to  live  so  as  to 
be  prepared  to  die,  and  this  being  evinced  by 
the  calmness  and  serenity  of  his  countenance, 
it  was  no  doubt  such  an  evidence  that  induced 
a  neighbor,  of  another  religious  persuasion,  to 
say  that  "  he  would  not  giv^e  the  peace  of  mind 
which  T.  AV.  felt  for  all  the  satisfaction  and 
comfort  of  a  distinguished  minister"  who  was 
then  attracting  large  crowds  of  hearers. 

A  few  years  before  his  decease  he  was  re- 
duced quite  low  with  dysentery,  insomuch  that 


44 


MEMOIR  OP 


his  recovery  was  thought  doubtful.  One  day 
being  asked  how  he  was,  he  repb'ed^  I  con- 
sider it  a  great  favor,  when  the  body  is  labor- 
ing under  disease,  that  the  mind  is  easy,  per- 
fectly easy;  nothing  in  the  way/'  And  on 
several  kinds  of  nourishment  being  proposed, 
he  declined  any,  saying  "  I  believe  patience  is 
best.  I  desire  the  Almighty  may  furnish  me 
with  patience  to  hold  out  to  the  end.'' 

At  another  time  he  said  :  The  way  the  dis- 
ease is  working,  I  think  it  more  likely  that  I 
will  not  get  well  than  that  I  will,  and  I  sup- 
pose  will  be  spoken  to  to  make  my  cof- 
fin; I  wish  it  to  be  plain — entirely  plain."  In 
the  evening,  being  asked  by  a  neighbor  if  his 
mind  was  composed,  he  replied,  Entirely  so ; 
nothing  in  the  way." 

Sitting  by  him  one  morning,  he  said  to  the 
writer :  "  I  often  feel  desirous  for  thee,  that 
thou  mayest  not  get  along  in  too  easy,  uncon- 
cerned a  way;  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  make  a 
plain  appearance,  attend  meetings,  and  so;  all 
this  is  right  and  proper  in  its  place;  but  I  often 
feel  desirous  for  thee,  that  thou  mayest  not  con- 
tent thyself  short  of  coming  to  an  experimental 
knowledge  of  the  truth.  What  signifies  all  the 
world,  to  peace  of  mind  at  such  a  time  as  this? 


THOMAS  WARINa. 


45 


If  I  could  have  the  whole  world,  I  would  not 
take  it  for  the  peace  of  mind  I  now  feel ;  it  is 
inexpressible.  I  feel  desirous  that  thou  ma  vest 
not  mingle  in  politics.  If  thou  dost,  I  believe 
it  will  tend  to  poverty.  I  remember  years  ago, 
when  I  was  called  upon  to  attend  court  at  Elkton 
and  other  places,  I  was  careful  to  do  nothing 
that  would  reflect  upon  the  truth,  and  I  be- 
lieve I  was  more  respected  than  any  Friend  that 
departed  from  our  testimonies/^  At  one  time 
a  friend  expressed  to  him  a  desire  that  he 
might  get  well,  to  which  he  replied,  I  do 
not  hope  so."  And  again  he  referred  to  the 
meeting  then  held  at  his  house,  manifesting  a 
desire  that  it  should  be  held  in  the  authority 
of  truth.  Many  other  weighty  expressions  were 
dropped  by  him  during  this  illness,  but  not 
being  noted  down  at  the  time,  are  not  now  re- 
membered with  sufficient  clearness  to  record. 

Although  in  Inscrutable  Wisdom  he  was 
raised  from  this  bed  of  sickness,  yet  another 
affliction  soon  followed,  which  gradually  in- 
creased until  his  dissolution.  Some  years  be- 
fore, something  like  a  cancer  had  made  its 
appearance  on  the  under  lip,  which  for  a  time 
seemed  to  be  cured,  and  continued  so  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  afterwards  made  its  appearance 


46 


MEMOIR  OF 


again,  becoming  very  serious ;  and  although 
not,  in  general,  accompanied  with  acute  pain, 
yet  there  was  a  continual  sensation  of  uneasi- 
ness in  the  part  affected,  and  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  time  accompanied  with  oppression  at  the 
breast,  through  which  he  was  remarkably  pa- 
tient, calm,  and  serene,  often  saying  he  "con- 
sidered himself  wonderfully  favored,  not  to 
have  more  pain." 

He  now  appeared  as  one  whose  work  was 
done,  and  who  was  quietly  waiting  to  be  gath- 
ered, as  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  in  its  season, 
to  the  garner  of  rest.  He  desired  his  friends 
not  to  grieve  for  him,  saying  he  had  lived  to  a 
greater  age  than  many,  and  had  had  many 
baptizing  seasons  to  pass  through,  but  in  look- 
ing back  to  his  past  life  he  saw  no  cause  to  re- 
flect on  himself,  except  for  some  instances  of 
unfaithfulness,  but  he  "  believed  he  was  entirely 
forgiven,'^  and  said  that  death  was  no  terror  to 
him. 

On  sitting  by  him  a  few  weeks  before  his 
decease,  he  spoke  thus :  "  I  desire  that  thou 
mayest  be  faithful ;  I  have  been  thinking  a 
good  deal  about  it  lately,  and  I  desire  that 
thou  mayest  be  faithful  to  what  thou  may  ap- 
prehend to  be  thy  duty.'' 


THOMAS  WARING. 


47 


Towards  the  last  of  his  time  he  appeared 
sensible  that  his  end  was  drawing  near,  and 
seeing  his  sister  weep,  he  said  there  was  no 
cause  for  grief,  it  would  be  a  happy,  change  for 
him. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  of  his  departure 
he  intimated  that  he  would  not  see  another 
night.  Towards  noon  it  became  evident  that 
his  close  was  near,  and  he  seemed  to  desire  the 
presence  of  his  family,  who,  with  a  few  others, 
gathered  around  him.  Xot  seeing  his  wife  he 
asked  for  her,  and  finding  she  was  near  him, 
he  appeared  satisfied.  His  mind  was  now 
drawn  into  supplication,  but  except  the  w^ords, 
^'Oh,  Gracious  Goodness,"  his  expressions  were 
too  low  to  be  gathered.  And  thus,  having 
kept  the  faith,  he  finished  his  course  in  peace, 
at  noon,  on  fourth  day,  the  26th  of  First 
Month,  1842,  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age. 


